# Dry Bathing to Self-Clean Japanese Stone-Slab Baths By Greg Ponesse | Published 2006-01-26 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-new-type-of-bathing-who-knew-sweating-was-a-form-of-self-cleansing References: [web-japan.org](http://web-japan.org/trends/lifestyle/lif060124.html) Young and old alike, the Japanese love baths, whether in a [hot spring](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-stone-massage), a [public bathhouse](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indooroutdoor-bathhouse-facility), or a private tub. Soaking in hot water is a time-honored way of relaxing. In recent years, two new types of bath have become popular. One is a dry form of bathing known as ganban-yoku ("stone-slab bath"), and the other is a [soak in hot water](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/niteswim) infused with the mineral germanium. Both types of bath are attracting attention for their putative benefits in terms of weight, beauty, and detoxification. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.6/10 - Popularity: 62% | Activity: 9% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Home](https://www.trendhunter.com/home) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Dry Bathing:** Embracing the trend of dry bathing can lead to opportunities in creating innovative self-cleaning products and services for relaxation and detoxification. - **Germanium-infused Baths:** Exploring the trend of germanium-infused baths opens up possibilities for developing beauty and health-related products and treatments. - **Stone-slab Baths:** Capitalizing on the popularity of stone-slab baths presents chances for creating unique spa experiences and natural skincare products. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Wellness and Relaxation:** The wellness and relaxation industry can leverage the dry bathing trend to develop new self-cleaning technologies and innovative bath products. - **Beauty and Skincare:** The beauty and skincare industry can tap into the Germanium-infused baths trend to create specialized products that promote youthful skin and detoxification. - **Hospitality and Spa:** The hospitality and spa industry can embrace the stone-slab baths trend to provide unique and rejuvenating experiences for their guests, along with natural and eco-friendly skincare options. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Contemporary Public Bathhouses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/round-about-baths.md) - [Luxurious At-Home Therapy Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-stone-spa.md) - [Mineral-Rich Bath Salts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bath-therapy.md) - [Japanese Snack Box-Inspired Bathtubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bento-starck-box.md) - [Removable Bathtub Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bathtrope.md) - [Luxury Bathing Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/baina-1.md) - [Bathhouse Fundraising Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indooroutdoor-bathhouse-facility.md) - [Calming Bedtime Bath Soaks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bedtime-bath-soak.md) - [Ritualistic Bath Soaks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/niteswim.md)